Riverfront Park opens for sunshine, splashing and playground fun

WENATCHEE — Summer has finally arrived at Riverfront Park! Following years of dedicated community planning, construction, and renovation, a host of improvements are now open for the community to enjoy. These new features are the result of a lasting partnership between Chelan PUD and the City of Wenatchee.

"These improvements are based on a multi-year master planning process with the community," said Justin Erickson, PUD Chief Strategy & Stakeholder Officer. "We know that people love our local parks, and these new features will create benefits for decades to come."

The newly unveiled features at Riverfront Park include:

• Apple-themed Children’s Play Area: Located just off the pedestrian bridge, north of Pybus Market, this area is designed for children aged 5-12 and includes a new restroom.
• “Sunken Steamboat” Splash Pad: Situated just south of the restrooms at Fifth Street, this splash pad will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day. Please note that rentals are not available.
• New Picnic Pavilion: Found just north of the new splash pad, this pavilion is available on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge, every day from 7 a.m. to dusk.
• Wider and Separated Trails: Sections of trails have been widened and separated to enhance flow in high-use areas and improve safety for all users.

To ensure everyone's safety on the trails, new trail markers and signage are in place. As always, remember to maintain a speed under 10 miles per hour, pass on the left, and exercise extra caution in congested areas.

To help park visitors familiarize themselves with the new features, PUD staff will be on the trail this week to share safety tips, answer questions, and offer special tokens of appreciation. Stop by the splash pad at Fifth Street during these times: Thursday, June 26 from 4–6 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chelan PUD and the City of Wenatchee are committed to continuing their collaboration with the community to protect and enhance local parks for everyone. This massive renovation and addition to the city’s already-vibrant network of parks will be generational in its reach, and it all started with the people of Wenatchee calling for it.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media